Ellis s



Nrrnn i STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS S. HATCH, OF VILLARD, AND JAMES PRESTON HUTOHINSON, OF AUBURN, MAINE, ASSIGNORS TO SAID HUTOHINSON.

MILK-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersyatent No. 468,768, dated February 9, 1892.

Application led April ll, 1891. Serial No. 388,549. (No model.)

To all whom t maycmwern;

Be it known that we, ELLIS S. HATCH, residing at VillarcLin the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, and JAMES PRESTON HUTCHINSON, residing at Auburn, in the county of Androscoggin and State ot' Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk-Gans; and we do hereby declare that the following-is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of milk cans or receptacles designed for household use; and it has for its object to provide an article of this character designed to be removably suspended at the exterior of a dwelling and at a placeaccessible to the milkman.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can or receptacle of the class described which shall be self-measuring and means by which the can is adapted to be suspended and held firmly in upright position.

A further object ot the invention is to provide, in combination with the can or receptacle, means for indicating the required quantity, ot milk to be deposited therein.

In the drawings, wherein like letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts,Figurel is a perspective view illustrating our inven-` tion in suspended position. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the handle. Fig. A is a similar view ot the supportingbracket. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the interior ot the cover.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the can or receptacle, which may be, in f,

the main, of any preferred or well-known construction and is provided with aseries of transverse convolutions os, designed to indicate given quantities of milk. For example, the can herein illustratedis a two-quart measure, the three convolutions thereon indicating, respectively,t`rom the lowermost upward one pint,7 one quart, and three pints, the filled can being two quarts. The size of the can is immaterial, however, and it is obvious that the convolutions may be increased or diminished to indicate greater or less subdivisions of the capacity of the can, as the case may be. Y

At one side of the can is provided a handle B, comprising the hollow handle proper B', approximately semi-cylindrical in cross-section and located parallel with the can. From the ends ot this portion project inwardly two flat connecting-arms b l), secured at their free ends tothe can. The flat side b of the semicylindrical portion B is located at the side farthest from the can, and centrally in the face thereof is provided a longitudinal slot C, eX- tending from one end of the portion B to the other and terminating at the lower end of said portion B in an enlarged opening c, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

For suspending the can when desired a bracket D is provided, said bracket being T- shaped in construction and constructed of metal or other suitable material. This bracket is designed to be secured in vertical position to the door-frame or in any other suitable or desired position; and to this end it is provided with apertures d d, extending transversely therethrough from the front to the back, and through which securing screws or nails are passed. When the bracket is secured in position, a longitudinal ange D is formed at each side, said iianges being removed from the wall to which the bracket is secured.

The operation ot' supporting the can upon the bracket will be apparent. The former is Iirst held in a position with the back of its handle resting against the wall above thebracket. As the can is drawn down, the bracket enters the opening c and finally engages the closed upper end of the slot C. The latter and the arm of the bracket which contacts with the wall being of approximately the same breadth, the can is held rigid upon the bracket and lateral movement of the can obviated.

E designates a cover for the can, which is hinged to the latter at the rear, as sho-wn at e. Upon the interior of this cover is stamped or otherwise marked characters F, corresponding to the capacity of the can and the various divisions thereot as formed by the convolutions a-that is, in the present instance, the can be ing adapted to receive the following quantities: vone pint, one quart, three pints, and two quarts, marks denoting these various quantitiesareprovided. Thecharacters are arranged circularly upon the cover and are covered by IOO a revoluble disk G, the latter being provided with a recess g, designed to expose but one charactery at a time.

The office and advantages of our invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art t0 which it appertains. The can is designed to be suspended at the exterior of a dwelling, accessible to the milkman. After or before it has been placed in position the disk is turned to display the characters denoting the quantity of milk desired and is readily observed upon opening the cover. The device is also adapted to the various domestic uses to which the ordinary measuring-cup is applied.

We claim as our inventionl. In a milk-recei ver, the combination, with a suspending-bracket consisting of a vertically-disposed plate provided ateaeh side with a longitudinal flange flush with the face of the plate, of the receiver proper provided with a hollow handle having a longitudinal slot at its rear side adapted to receive the suspending-bracket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a milk-receiver, the combination,with the receiver proper provided withan indicator, for the purpose described, and with a hollow handle, the latter being provided with a longitudinal slot having a stop at its upper end, of an upright supporting-bracket provided at .each side with a longitudinal flange, the latter being adapted to be received by the slotted handle, substantially as and for the pur- 

